Noise Cancellation and Permeability in AirPods Pro and AirPods Max: what it is and how to switch between modes. All top-end Apple headphones (AirPods Pro and AirPods Max) have noise cancellation. In this article, we will talk about managing this feature and what it is for.
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Devices must be running iOS version 13.2 or later to support AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation) and AirPods Max. You can check if your device is up to date by launching the Settings app and going to General → Software update.
What is Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency (Open Headphones) in AirPods Pro and AirPods Max?
AirPods Pro and AirPods Max wireless headphones have three noise control modes: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency (Open Headphones), and Off. You can switch between them depending on how important the surrounding sounds are.
In Active Noise Canceling mode, an external microphone picks up external sounds, then the headphones emit inverted waves that cancel out external noise. In this way, external sounds are suppressed before you hear them.
In addition, the headphones’ internal microphone detects and cancels remaining noise inside your ear.
In the “Open Headphones” mode, the user will be able to hear what is happening around – external sounds are not suppressed by the headphones.
How does active noise cancellation work in AirPods Pro and AirPods Max?
Active noise cancellation to focus on what you are listening to.
When noise canceling is active, the external microphone on each earpiece detects sound from outside, which is then canceled out with corresponding inverted sound waves. This allows you to remove outside noise before it reaches your ears.
In addition, unlike previous generations of AirPods, AirPods Pro come with different sizes of silicone eartips for a custom fit.
How do I turn on Noise Cancellation or Transparency Mode (Open Headphones) in AirPods Pro and AirPods Max on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac?
There are several ways you can control the noise canceling feature on your AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. The first method involves using a dedicated button or pressure sensor on the AirPods themselves with default settings, the other methods are available through the on-screen menus on your iOS device, iPadOS, Apple Watch, and Mac.
How to switch between noise control modes on AirPods Max?
Use the noise canceling control button on your AirPods Max to switch between Noise Cancelling and Transparency modes.
How do I switch from Noise Cancelling to Transparency (Open Headphones) mode on AirPods Pro using the pressure sensor?
Press and hold the pressure sensor on any AirPod Pro until you hear a beep.
If you want, you can customize the press-and-hold gesture on your AirPods Pro, and even use it to turn off noise canceling mode controls entirely.
How do I switch from Noise Canceling to Transparency (Open Headphones) or disable both modes on AirPods Pro and AirPods Max via iOS (iPadOS) settings?
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Go to the Bluetooth menu. Or go straight to Settings → AirPods.
- In the My Devices section, click the information icon (the circled “i”) next to AirPods Pro in the list.
- In the Noise Control section, click Noise Cancellation, Off or “Transparency”, depending on your preference.
How do I switch from Noise Canceling to Transparency (open headphones) or disable both modes on AirPods Pro and AirPods Max via iOS Control Center (iPadOS)?
- Open Control Center on your iPhone or iPad.
- Press and hold the volume slider in Control Center (the menu for connected headphones should open).
- Click the Noise Control icon in the bottom left corner. Use the Noise Reduction, Off, or Transparency buttons depending on your preference.
How do I switch from Noise Cancellation to Transparency (Open Headphones) or disable both on AirPods Pro and AirPods Max on Apple Watch?
- On the player screen, while playing music, tap the AirPlay icon in the lower left corner.
- Select Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, or Off, depending on your preference.
How do I switch from Noise Cancellation to Transparency (Open Headphones) or disable both on AirPods Pro and AirPods Max on Mac?
- Click the connected Apple Headphones icon in the menu bar on your Mac.
Note. In case the volume control icon doesn’t appear in the macOS menu bar, launch the System Preferences app and go to the Sound section. Open the “Output” tab and select “Show audio in menu bar”.
- Select AirPods Pro or AirPods Max and then select Noise Cancellation, Transparency, or Off.
You can also select two (such as Noise Cancellation and Transparency) or three modes (Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off) of noise control to use with the pressure sensor on AirPods Pro or the noise control button on AirPods Max in macOS settings:
Connect your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max headphones to your Mac, open the System Preferences app,
and in the “Press and hold to switch between modes” drop-down list, select the two or three noise reduction modes you want to switch between.
